The British Columbia company BC ferries is looking into replacing at least one of its propeller-driven boats with a new and innovative technology.

The route from Denman Island to Buckley Bay is a two kilometer route on Vancouver Island. This route has long been serviced by a propeller driven vessel.

A cable ferry is an alternate option that BC Ferries is currently considering. It relies on a system of pulleys. The pulleys wind and unwind a cable that would be strung between the locations.

Currently BC ferries is carefully examining the pros and cons including how much money could be saved on fuel. There are conflicting opinions within the company as to whether it would be a good idea. While the media relations officer of the company was quoted saying it would be cheaper than a conventional ferry, Tony Law of the ferry company’s advisory committee replied with this “We know that it’s supposedly going to be cheaper to run. But at this point it doesn’t look like that will result in a reduction in fares, just a reduction in the costs that BC Ferries has to absorb,”

There could also be additional risk of problems and ferry breakdowns.